Koopa’s D.I.Y. Campaign Lands UK Chart Success

Just in case you’re still doubting how quickly consumers will move to downloads or how rapidly digital is revolutionizing the music business just take a look at what’s happening in the UK. And one band did it entirely without a label.

Less than two weeks after the UK’s charts changed to allow download sales to count towards chart position unsigned act Koopa charted with "Blag, Steal & Borrow" at 31. An estimated 95% of Koopa’s sales were on one site 7digital.com where the band has a 7digital powered store and sister site indiestore.

"Changing the chart rules has completely rejuvenated the charts. Allowing digital sales to count has made the top 40 more of a level playing field for all artists, removing the costs associated with
getting a physical single recorded, pressed and distributed," commented Ben Drury of 7digital. "Any band with a healthy fanbase now has a crack at the charts,
The digital methods that Koopa used – setting up an indiestore to sell their tracks, mobilizing their fanbase by pointing MySpace visitors to their 7digital stores, making their single available as widely as possible and using SMS pre-orders – are tools that anybody can use."